Improvement in burial-cases



T. DANIELS.

BURIAL-CASE.

Patented, May 23, '1876.

N.PETRS, PHOTO-LITHDGIIAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT Cr mea.

TAYLOR E. DANIELS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

. IMPROVEMENT IN BURIAL-CASES.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 177,812, dated May 23, 1876; application filed May 10, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, TAYLOR E. DANIELS, of 'Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have inventedcertain Improvements in Artificial-Marble Burial-Gases, of

which the following is a specification:

My invention consists. in embedding or incorporating in the walls of the coffin metal skeleton frames of peculiar form, for the purpose of strengthening the cofiin and receiving the strain of the handles; in providing these frames with wooden blocks to receive the screws which hold the handles in place, whereby I am enabled to secure the handles with common wood-screws, and thus avoid the expense of tapping holes in the metal; in casting leaden blocks in the walls of the coffin to receive the lid-fastening screws, so that the lid may be secured with wood-screws in molding leaden thimbles in the lid for the fastening-screws to pass through, whereby danger of the screws fracturing the lid is avoided.

Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved coffin, with a small portion broken away in order to show the manner in which the leaden thimbles and blocks are applied to receive the lid fastening screws; Fig. 2, a cross-section of the coffin on the line was, showing the leaden thimbles and blocks, the skeleton frames, the wooden blocks which receive the handle-screws, and'the wooden lining; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the coffin on the line g y, with the wooden lining removed; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the metal skeleton frame; and Fig. 5 a view showing the form of the leaden thimbles and blocks. a

In proceeding to manufacture my coffins, I first provide for each coffin two skeleton metal frames, A, such as representedin Fig. 4, each frame having three arms, a, and being made of such size and form that when embedded in the end of the coffin one arm will extend upward on each side, and'one at the end flush with the inside of the coffin, to the upper edge of its walls. Each arm of the frame is provided midway of its height with an outward projection, 12, to enter the walls of the coffin, and prevent the frame from being lifted out. Each of these projections is recessed on the inside, and fitted with a block of wood, 0, and also provided with holes d, through which common wood-screws may be inserted into the blocks for the purpose of securing the handles, whereby I dispense with the usual metal screws, and the expense of tapping-holes to receive them.

The frames, thus constructed and provided with the blocks, and also with the handlefastening screws, if desired, I place in the coffin-mold, one at each end, adjusting them carefully, and securing them firmly in place by pins or other fastenings. 1 next provide a number of small leaden blocks, a, suchas represented in Fig. 5, and place them also in the mold in such positions that they will be seated in the edge of the ooffin at the proper points to receive the lid-fastening screws. After the frames and blocks are thus adjusted, I fill the mold with the plastic marble to form the coffin, which is thus cast upon and around the frames and blocks in such manner as to incor porate or embed them firmly and securely therein flush with the surface, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. After the coffin is-removed from the mold, the handles are secured in place by means of the wood-screws f, passed through the walls-and metal frames into the wooden blocks 0, as shown in Fig. 3. After constructing the coffin-body as described, I cast a corresponding lid, D, first placing in the mold small leaden thimbles g, in such positions that they will pass through the edges of the lids at the points where the fasteningscrews are to be inserted directly over the blocks a in the body, as shown in Figs. 1, 2', and 3. When the lid is applied, ordinary wood-screws 6, having gimlet-points, are inserted through the thimbles 9 into the leaden blocks 0, in whichthey take a hold and seat themselves without having a thread tapped therein.

The thimbles, being of a yielding nature,

permit the lid 'to be drawn down tightly in place without danger of being fractured.

Screws 7c are also passed down through the lid into the arms of the skeleton frames, as shown, whereby the upper ends of the arms are prevented from springing inward, and thus the sides of the coffin sustained against the inward pressure of the handles when the coffin is lifted thereby.

Were it not for the support thus given the walls, the strain of the handles would endanger them, and necessitate the casting of the coffin much heavier and stronger than when the frames are employed. After completing the body and lid, I place in the former a closely-fitting removable lining of wood, E, made in the formof a box or case, so that it can be dropped into place or readily lifted out. This lining forms' a base upon which the upholstering and trimming may be'tacked in the same manner as to an ordinary coffin, and admits of the trimming being done by one set of workmen, while the coffin is being finished by another set. ings and coffins being kept in stock separately, and a lining of any desired style being applied to a coffin in a moment, as fancy may dictate;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The artificial marble coffin B, having It also admits of the prepared linembedded in its walls the two metal frames A, each having the arms it provided with the protuberances b and holes 01, as shown.

2. The wooden blocks 0, seated in the metal frames A, of an artificial-marble coffin, B, for the purpose of receiving the screws whiehsecure the handles in place.

3. The artificial-marble coflin B, having the leaden blocks 6 molded in the upper edges of its walls, in combination with the pointed wood-screws seated therein to secure the lid in place. 0

4. In co coffin-lid, leaden thimbles g, mounted in the edges thereof to receive the lid fastening screws, and prevent them from fracturing the lid.

TAYLOR E. DANIELS. Witnesses P. T. DODGE, WILL W. DODGE.

mbination with an artificial-marble. 

